NAPE says Purity Factory workers to take strike vote

The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) announced today that negotiations with Purity Factories Ltd. have broken off.

NAPE president Carol Furlong

The union says it will be conducting a strike vote among its members in the near future.

According to NAPE President Carol Furlong the main issue is wages.

“After several meetings and conciliation, we are extremely disappointed with the unwillingness of the employer to recognize the valuable contribution the employees have made toward building the company,” Furlong said.

According to a news release, of the 52 employees 24 have in excess of 30 years service, another five have more than 20 years service.

"This demonstrates a strong commitment to the company by the employees, and the company now needs to reciprocate and show its commitment to the economic well being for the employees,” Furlong said.

"Employees at Purity Factories find themselves working and living in one of the hottest economies in the country. They need salary increases that will enable them to maintain their standard of living. We are asking the employer to put forward a salary package that recogizes the contribution of the employees to the company and recognizes the economic need of its employees.”

I live in Ottawa and just picked up some of the last Hard Bread that's available here in Ottawa. I found it at Lapointe's Fish store in the Byward Market.
I'm thinking that the workers at he Purity plant should be trying to get shares in the company if the price of the Hard Bread is any indication of things to come, I paid 12.99 a bag, I did buy the last 2 on the shelf, not sure if they had any more in back, probably under lock and key.
Good luck to all the workers and I hope you're back on the job real soon.
Eric Coles
1523 Delia Cr
Orleans, ON
K4A 2Y1

The good people of NL and particular those in St.John's and Mt. Pearl should rally behind those workers at Purity. Stand with them in numbers and send a clear message that they appreciate both the product and the people who make it.
United we stand, divided we fall....

Here we go again...another strike coming at Purity Factories. After working there for 30 plus years I can not believe the disrespect the Employer has for the employee's. The company is putting us where they want us....OUT ON THE STREET.....the last strike we had they said they were going to starve us off the picket line!!!!!!I This time I guess they thought we were going to take the 30 cents they offered us...that is an embarrassment ....how can we keep up with the costs of living.
We have no benefit's at Purity....no pension....no sick days......no snow days...no respect. We work in 100 plus temperature......stood on a concrete floor with lots of lifting and bending. Most of the employer's at Purity are there 30 plus years and think the employer should recognize how valuable they are. A decent wage is all we ask for.

This is so troubling reading this! For years, both Nflders at home and abroad have loved and respected the Purity name and its products! And now we are realizing that it was the employees who literally have slaved in the heat and poor conditions to give of themselves for our heritage, so we could continue to have a piece of our ROCK on our plates.But the big shock is that these conditions in the factory are seriousy REAL and harmful to health. I cannot believe that the company would not deliver better working conditions. It is a shock and disbelief to me! I live out of province and have for many years, but to understand that my birthplace's once honoured and respected company like Purity, is treating its employees as in third world work practices, is hurtful. I have a very close friend who has worked there for many years since out of high school , who gave of herself day after day without complaint cause that is what our fellow Nflders are made of, endurance, sweat, caring and respect for those they work for and whom they work beside day after day, year after year, thankful that they have employment. But though these workers have given of themselves like this in conditions as they have with only excuses from the company when they ask if airconditioning was possible, or other requests to help with comfort on the hard floors, I wonder if the company respects the heritage of what a TRUE nflder is! Is the company owned by someone outside of Nfld or have they lost their way from what it means to be a sincere and caring Nflder... from what their own parents and grandparents who were born and bred REAL Nflders had taught them , learning right from wrong as they grew up in this beautiful province! I suspect theyd(ancestors) be turning over in their graves right now if they knew what disrespect their children have been showing to the people they employ, who have made that company financially and productwise successful for them today with their heartfelt determination! I am disappointed to the core, I am soulfully hurting to know that you PURITY have gone so deep in the gutter, to be so uncaring and greedy, to sell your soul that no longer shows that "purity" that we once knew for years.

As former employee of Purity Factories, I can tell you the work is extremely hard. Standing on a concrete floor for eight hour, heavy lifting, bending in over a conveyor belt , all wreck havoc on your back. If that isn't enough, you have the sweltering heat from the ovens, which during the summer months border on inhumane. The employees are only looking for a fair contract, when times were rough they took the lay-offs, even when they always seemed to occur just prior to a paid holiday. Now that the company is doing better, I think it is time they gave some of their profits back to the people who make Purity what it is, their EMPLOYEES. As the company is so proud to claim, their name stands for, Purity freshness, Purity goodness and great Purity taste. Well maybe it is time to change the claim to; Purity respect for our employees, Purity goodness in negotiating a fair contract and Purity GREAT employees. As one of the oldest Newfoundland companies, established in 1924, lets make all Newfoundlanders proud and get back to the table and give your employees what they deserve, a FAIR contract!!!!

Scably McSnivells quit hating on those workers with enough fortitude to stand up for themselves and either quit your pissant job or just plain get one because union bashers usually come from one situation or the other. That being said the local at Purity can hardly be described as greedy if you knew the details of their past contracts which you don't.
The workers there are the most loyal and hardest working people I have ever worked with and are up against the most despicable, underhanded and pre-Confederation minded management to be found in the country.
And as far as there being lots of people to fill those jobs, Purity would be hamstrung if they lost the workers they have: look around at the labour pool available today and compare to the dedicated men and women at Purity who drive in from Kelligrews and Petty Harbour through winter storms that close the University, take buses off the roads and even cab drivers stay at home. Many times we worked a full shift in a blizzard when the only people working were us and the hospitals.
Keep that in mind when you take snide potshots at the greedy workers!

Purity Factories should make a reasonable offer to their employees but they do not owe them the business. Employees did not stay out of loyalty, but rather because it was as good a job as they could get. If a better job became available they would have left. They were paid for the work they did and are not owed any more for it or for any current success the company is having. I do not hear the union's claiming any responsibility / credit when a company is in trouble or failing just when they are having some success. Odd that it works out that way...

Wayne, you forget that coke was not an original Newfoundland product. Purity Factories products are the true sense of Newfoundland. Now living on the mainland, I have visited many a Newfoundlanders house and found Purity products lining their shelves. Have more faith in your fellow Islanders, Purity would have no business at all should they decide to leave the province I would bet.
But regardless of those issues, my mother has worked at Purity Factories since the day she left high school. Dedication certainly is the number one driving force behind keeping Purity Factories afloat over the past 40 years. I remember several years where workers barely worked enough weeks to keep an EI claim open for the following year. Thankfully for both the workers and the company business certainly has turned around. This being said, their employees stuck with them through the worst, and now that the winds have changed it is time for Purity Factories to show their gratitude to their employees for the outstanding work and dedication.
Many of these employees will soon reach the age of retirement, but unfortunately will not be able to do so because they do not have an employment pension package to co-inside with the government funded Pension.
It is time the wages of these employees match that of their dedication, and work standards. Because certainly Purity Factories would never find another group of employees that promote their products the way they do now.
Best Wishes Folks, and if Blackmarsh Rd calls your name on vote day, may they learn quickly that their employees are worth every cent that they earn.

What is going on with Purity Factories...how many strikes is this now for Purity....I can remember 3, obviously their is something wrong.........does the employer realize how hard it is to get good workers these days, I own my own business and find it extremely hard to get good help.........keep your products in Nl....I would not be able to buy them if they were made out side of the province......own up to your employee's!!!

I as a long time worker of Purity Factories feel like I am do for a good raise.....business is booming for Purity on and off the island and also in the states....we have no pension at purity and we walk out of there with what we came in with.... be fair to your employee's..........

I buy Purity Products regular and would be very dissappointed if they went out of the province to make their product......if this happens I will never buy another Purity Product Again and I will spread the word around...........treat your employee with respect ang keep the work in Nl.

Purity is having banner year after banner while chipping away at the wages of its workers. Having worked there, I know. The new subdivision behind the factory on Blackmarsh Road is built on land sold by the owners of Purity, just when the real estate market took off. The company owns all land, buildings and machines outright and has never had it so good in the over 60 years it's been on the go.
It's about time the workers whose decades of loyal service and hard work that built the brand received some of the benefits. Lord knows they would be the first ones to suffer and pay if the company started losing money.

Wayne, you forget that coke was not an original Newfoundland product. Purity Factories products are the true sense of Newfoundland. Now living on the mainland, I have visited many a Newfoundlanders house and found Purity products lining their shelves. Have more faith in your fellow Islanders, Purity would have no business at all should they decide to leave the province I would bet.
But regardless of those issues, my mother has worked at Purity Factories since the day she left high school. Dedication certainly is the number one driving force behind keeping Purity Factories afloat over the past 40 years. I remember several years where workers barely worked enough weeks to keep an EI claim open for the following year. Thankfully for both the workers and the company business certainly has turned around. This being said, their employees stuck with them through the worst, and now that the winds have changed it is time for Purity Factories to show their gratitude to their employees for the outstanding work and dedication.
Many of these employees will soon reach the age of retirement, but unfortunately will not be able to do so because they do not have an employment pension package to co-inside with the government funded Pension.
It is time the wages of these employees match that of their dedication, and work standards. Because certainly Purity Factories would never find another group of employees that promote their products the way they do now.
Best wishes folks, and should Blackmarsh Road call your name on vote day, may the company quickly learn that their employees are worth every cent they earn.

Wayne

August 23, 2010 - 12:55

I am a long time supporter of organized labour and once served on my local's executive ...but NAPE and the workers need to be very careful here. Purity can make Jam Jams and hard tack anywhere and just ship them back here. Anybody remember how we were going to "boycot" Coke when they stopped bottling here ? It never happened......I fully agree that the Purity workers DESERVE good wages and benefits.....but it won't take much for the owners to just close up and have some huge factory in Quebec turn out coconut bars every second Tuesday with an assembly line populated by minimum wage workers from third world countries.

Here we go again!! Another strike looming!! Come on management at Purity Factories.....DON'T FORCE OUT your employees like the last strike! Nobody wins....You look BAD to the public and the employees never gain back the wages they lose while on strike,. EVERYBODY knows that!! You ARE relatively a new owner who has bought the company a few years ago from a long time wealthy NL family. Let's see some new thinking here from the old style management previously endured for many years by your dedicated employees!! PLEASE don't go down the same road. You have the opportunity here to do right by your employees and give them what they deserve!! In doing so, you will surely gain their respect and dedication. THEY are your best ASSET! Give them the opportunity to be proud to work for your company and their loyalty will be gained. That's your bonus! Your company and NAPE should work out a fair wage and get an agreement for a pension plan for them as well! How many places today are unionized and the union can not get their members a pension package???? It wouldn't fly at the Confederation Bldg., I'm quite sure of that!! They work under extreme heat in the summer when the ovens are burning and in winter they have to risk life and limb to battle snow storms to get to and from work when everybody else is home safe and sound. In 2010 I don't think they are being unreasonable for them asking for their share of the lucrative profits made by your company!. Your employees deserve that! Please
do the right thing and get this strike talk out the way before it's too late and the pickets go up. This Can and SHOULD be taken care of pronto. We know PurIty Factories is making money and lots of it. If it wasn't, how could international expansion take place. It would not be worth the bother. I hope this helps management /owners to open your minds about how the public feels about this and do the honourable thing. GIVE your workers a decent wage. No doubt you will reap the respect that all employers would like to have, but it works both ways.